Garment carrying aid

ABSTRACT

A garment carrying aid in the form of an elongated strap adaptable to extend obliquely across the chest and over one shoulder of the user, one end of the strap having a hook connectable to the belt or trousers of the user and the other end having a loop capable of receiving the hooks of garment hangers.

United States Patent [1 1 Skinner GARMENT CARRYING AID [76] inventor: Raymond O. Skinner, 6755 E. 24

St., Tulsa, Okla. 74129 [22] Filed: Feb. 20, I973 [21] App]. N0.: 334,026

[52] US. Cl. 224/5 N; 224/5 R; 224/45 T [5 l] Int. Cl. A4Sf 5/00 [58] Field of Search... 224/26 R, 26 D, 26 K, 26 G, 224/45 T, 25 R, 25 A, 5 R, 5 A, 5 M, 5 P, 5 Q,5MA,8R,5N,45R;

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,586,058 5/1926 Winfield 224/8 R 3,106,350 10/1963 Wiltse et al. 224/26 R 3,362,599 l/l968 Galazin 224/45 T July 8,1975

3,564,590 2/l97l Hebel 224/45 T UX 3,682,358 8/]972 Richey 224/5 N X FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 225,002 2/1969 Sweden 224/5 P Primary Examiner-Robert J. Spar Assistant Examiner-Jerold M. Forsberg Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Christie, Parker & Hale 57] ABSTRACT A garment carrying aid in the form of an elongated strap adaptable to extend obliquely across the chest and over one shoulder of the user, one end of the strap having a hook connectable to the belt or trousers of the user and the other end having a loop capable of receiving the hooks of garment hangers.

1 Claim, 4 Drawing Figures GARMENT CARRYING AID BACKGROUND, SUMMARY AND OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION One problem experienced by travelers, and particularly those who travel frequently by means of airplanes, is that of carrying suits along with suitcases in making connection with and transferring between planes. This invention provides a lightweight, easy to use device which enables the user to carry one or more garments, such as suits, coats, or the like, while leaving his hands free for carrying suitcases, briefcases, or for purchasing or displaying tickets, boarding passes and the like.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a garment carrying aid.

More particularly, an object of this invention is to provide a device of small size and weight which enables the user to carry one or more garments on his back while leaving his hands free for transporting suitcases or the like.

These general objects as well as more specific objects of the invention will be fulfilled in the following description and claims, taken in conjunction with the attached drawings.

DESCRIPTIQN OF THE VIEWS FIG. 1 is an illustration of a user of the invention, showing the position of the garment carrying aid extending obliquely across the front of the user with one end extending over the shoulder of the user and the other end being affixed to the belt or trousers of the user.

FIG. 2 is a top view of the garment carrying aid of this invention.

FIG. 3 is a side view of the invention.

FIG. 4 is a partial view of the lower surface of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Referring to the drawings, a user is shown employing the invention. The device consists of a strap 14 which extends obliquely across the chest of the user, with one end extending over the shoulder of the user and the other end being affixed to the belt or trousers by an attachment means, such as a snap, hook or the like.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3 the invention is shown in more detail. The invention includes a strap 14 which may be of leather, plastic, woven material or the like. The strap has an upper surface 18 and a lower surface 20. The belt 14 includes a first end, generally indicated by the numeral 22, and a second end, generally indicated by the numeral 24. The first end 22 has affixed to it the attachment means 16 which may be in a variety of forms, but which preferably is of a type such as that shown in the drawings, that is, a snap adaptable to releasably grasp the belt or upper waistband of the trousers of the user.

The second end 24 of the strap includes a loop portion 26 adaptable to receive the hook of a garment hanger.

In addition to the essential features described to this point, FIG. 4 shows the lower surface of the strap and shows the provision of nonslip surface 28 adjacent the second end 24. The nonslip surface 28 may be in the form such as a latex surface or latex threads woven into the interior surface 20 of the loop. The function of nonslip surface 28 is to help prevent the strap from sliding off the shoulder of the user.

Another desirable additional feature is the provision of a flat protector pad 30 affixed to the lower surface of the strap at the second end 24. The protector 30 is parallel to loop 26 and serves to protect the user, and his garment, from being punched by the hook portions of garment hangers. The protector pad further serves to comfort the user.

Means is preferably provided, as indicated by numeral 32, to adjust the length of the strap. The length adjusting may be in the form of a clasp 34 of a type commonly used on suspenders for adjusting the length thereof. Other types of length adjusting means may be employed.

The user adjusts the length of the strap so that with the attachment means 16 affixed to his belt or trousers top the strap extends obliquely across his chest and over one shoulder, with the loop portion 26 just below the shoulder level. Suits, coats or other garments placed on coat hangers are carried by the device by extending the hook portions of the hangers through loop portion 26. Protection pad 30 prevents the hanger hooks from punching the user or accidently snagging his clothing. The nonslip surface 28 prevents the strap from slipping off the shoulder of the user. The user then may carry one, two or more garments while having both hands free to carry luggage, briefcases or to facilitate displaying tickets, signing papers, and so forth.

When the device is not required it can be folded or rolled and consumes very little space.

While the invention has been described with a certain degree of particularity it is manifest that many changes may be made in the details of construction and the arrangement of components of the device without departing from the spirit and scope of this disclosure. It is understood that the invention is not limited to the embodiment exemplified herein for purposes of illustrating the invention, but is limited only by the scope of the attached claim or claims, including the full range of equivalency to which each element or step thereof is entitled.

What is claimed is:

l. A garment carrying aid comprising:

an elongated flexible but substantially inelastic strap having a first and a second end and an inner and an outer surface, the strap being adapted to extend over one shoulder and obliquely across the front of the user such that the inner surface contacts the user,

a releasable clamp connected to said first end of the strap and adapted to clamp to the belt or top of the trousers at the front of the user with the strap extending upwardly across the chest and over one shoulder;

a terminal portion of the strap adjacent the second end being folded and secured to define a loop at said end of the strap to receive garment carrying hanger hooks;

non-slip surface means affixed to the strap inner surface over a portion of the length of the strap adjacent the loop, the length of the strap being proportioned to the user such that the non-slip surface is positioned over the shoulder of the user and said loop portion hangs over the back of the user when the clamp is attached to the belt or trouser top in the front of the user; and

a flat protector pad affixed to the inner surface of the strap adjacent the loop, the pad being parallel to and below the loop and wider than the strap, the pad serving to protect the user and his clothing from hooks of garment hangers or the like received in said loop. 

1. A garment carrying aid comprising: an elongated flexible but substantially inelastic strap having a first and a second end and an inner and an outer surface, the strap being adapted to extend over one shoulder and obliquely across the front of the user such that the inner surface contacts the user; a releasable clamp connected to said first end of the strap and adapted to clamp to the belt or top of the trousers at the front of the user with the strap extending upwardly across the chest and over one shoulder; a terminal portion of the strap adjacent the second end being folded and secured to define a loop at said end of the strap to receive garment carrying hanger hooks; non-slip surface means affixed to the strap inner surface over a portion of the length of the strap adjacent the loop, the length of the strap being proportioned to the user such that the non-slip surface is positioned over the shoulder of the user and said loop portion hangs over the back of the user when the clamp is attached to the belt or trouser top in the front of the user; and a flat protector pad affixed to the inner surface of the strap adjacent the loop, the pad being parallel to and below the loop and wider than the strap, the pad serving to protect the user and his clothing from hooks of garment hangers or the like received in said loop. 